The OCPS Stellar Awards recognizes outstanding Orange County Public School employees who exemplify the standards we strive for in supporting all of our students.
This annual event celebrates Orange County Public School’s stellar educators and school & district personnel.

There are five (5) Stellar Award categories which include:

1. Principal of the Year
2. Assistant Principal of the Year
3. Support Person of the Year
4. Teacher of the Year
5. District Administrator of the Year

Principal of the Year: Nominated by Principal Leaders. Each candidate is required to have served his/her current school for the entire school year for which they are being nominated.

Assistant Principal of the Year: Nominated by Principal Leaders. The candidate must have no  less than 2 (two) years of experience as an assistant principal at a public school. Each candidate is required to have served his/her current school no less than 1 (one) year preceding the filing of the application. 
Support Person of the Year: Nominated by Administrators/Principals. All classified, non-certified, non-instructional educational support personnel who serve at the school or district level including such as teacher aides, library aides, bookkeepers, secretaries and clerks, bus drivers, food service staff, custodians, building maintenance workers, warehouse workers, mechanics, nurses, and office managers. 

Teacher of the Year: Nominated by Administrators/Principals. Full-time district educators including classroom teachers in traditional schools Pre-K through 12, guidance counselors, media specialists, speech/language pathologists, special area teachers (e.g., exceptional student education, world languages, music), other professional educators performing instructional support services with students (e.g., school psychologists, school social workers and instructional coaches), adult education teachers, postsecondary vocational/technical education teachers.

District Administrator of the Year: Nominated by Division Cabinet Members. District Administrator of the Year honorees are full-time, non-classified, non-instructional employees.

There are no more than ten (10) Stellar division honorees. 

1.    Chief Academic Office
2.    Chief of Staff Office (Human Resources)
3.    Communications
4.    Division of Learning including Chief Schools Office
5.    Facilities
6.    Fiscal Services 
7.    General Counsel/Audit/Executive Services
8.    ITS 
9.    Operations
10.    Strategy Office

This is a division award presented by a member of the superintendent’s cabinet.
This is the only award presented by OCPS that is not recognized by the Florida Department of Education.

Schools may nominate one (1) teacher and one (1) support person.
Non-school based departments (determined by OCPS Organizational Chart) may nominate one (1) instructional staff member (confirm by checking SAP) and/or one (1) support employee.
Check eligibility by reviewing category descriptions above.
Charter school employees are not currently eligible to be nominated for any Stellar Awards category. 
 

Work location, department or division leadership will submit a nominee nomination form.
The nominee completes a category application. See categories listed above. 

Finalists strongly embody the OCPS values of:
•    Safety
•    People First
•    Integrity
•    Collaboration
•    Excellence

A category finalist is chosen from the full list of honorees after a careful review of each honoree application and screening by OCPS Professional Standards.
 

Winners are determined by:

• Review of Finalist’s application and other relevant documents or resources.
• In-person or video interview

Stellar Awards are held annually in mid to late January or early February depending on venue availability.

POY, APOY, SPOY and TOY: Stellar honoree, one (1) honoree guest and honoree’s immediate supervisor are invited and each receive a complementary ticket for the live event.

District Administrator: Stellar honoree and one (1) guest are invited and each receive a complementary ticket. This award is presented by the division chief.

*Honoree tickets are non-transferable.

OCPS senior leadership including members of cabinet and school board, event sponsors/partners, others who have significantly contributed to the planning or the success of the event and distinguished members of the greater OCPS community may also receive a complimentary ticket.

A very limited number of tickets are available for purchase by OCPS employees.

Please note that tickets sell out quickly.

No. Tickets for the event are not available for purchase on-site. Ticket sales close 14 days prior to the event date.

Each guest must be registered for the event and have been issued a ticket.

If you cannot locate your ticket, you may email events@ocps.net up 1 day prior to the event.

Minors may attend the event with an adult who has a ticket.

If the child requires their own seat, a full priced ticket must be purchased.

Email events for more information and assistance.

There are several ways to support the Stellar Awards including event sponsorships or becoming an event supporter.

Information for event sponsorships can be found here.

Information for event supporter tickets will become available when ticket sales open.